by Cornelia Fortier

Whether you like to pick them yourself or just pick them out yourself, an awful lot of the enjoyment of fall's bounty of apples and pumpkins is in the selection process. Of course, if you want apples to make a pie with, or for fritters or Brown Betty, certain varieties do the job best. But when it comes to picking extraordinary pumpkins, the field is wide open. Here are some places to pick your own:

Beardsley's Cider Mill & Orchard
278 Leavenworth Road
Shelton CT
203-926-1098
http://www.beardsleyscidermill.com

Pick-your-own apples at Beardsley's begins on September 20th, now that the apples have ripened. Available varieties include: Honeycrisp, Gala, Gingergold, and MacIntosh. Thousands of dwarf and semi-dwarf apple trees have been planted in Beardsley's fields to create a pick-your-own orchard with trees that only grow to 10 to 14 feet for easy reaching. The orchard is open weekends and holidays in September and October. Hours are: 10 AM to 6 PM. Here is their tasty recipe for Fresh Apple Cake: http://www.beardsleyscidermill.com/recipes.html.
 
Blue Jay Orchards
125 Plumtrees Road
Bethel CT 203-748-0119
http://www.bluejayorchards.com/

Dating back to 1934, Blue Jay Orchards farms 140 acres. Their pick-your-own apples is underway and their pumpkin patch opens for perusing in October, when their hayrides start. Hours are: 10 AM to 5 PM. If you're looking for something new to make, here are some prize-winning Connecticut apple recipes:  http://ctapples.com/recipes2.html.

Buell's Orchard
108 Crystal Pond Road
Eastford, CT 860-974-1150
http://www.buellsorchard.com/

Buell's Orchard features pick-your-own apples, a pumpkin patch, apple cider, caramel apples, a cider press and more, all on 100 acres of orchards. Hours for September and October are: Monday - Saturday, 8:00 AM to  5:00 PM and 1 PM to 5 PM on Sundays.

Horse Listeners Orchard
317 Bebbington Road, Ashford, CT
860-429-5336
http://www.horselistenersorchard.com/index.php
With many varieties of apples to pick right from the trees, you can make your own comparison of varieties. There are also free train rides, free apple cider donuts, and fresh hot apple cider to quench your thirst after picking your own apples.

Jones Family Farms
266 Israel Hill Road
Shelton CT 06484
for a crop report, call 203-929-8425
http://www.jonesfamilyfarms.com/

With 400 working acres, the Jones Family Farms have many seasonal crops, including: pumpkins, gourds and squash, and later, Christmas trees. From September 27th - October 31st, pumpkin picking is underway. Visit the farm for their 23rd annual UNICEF Children’s Festival on October 25 and 26. Children are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes, get their faces painted, and take part in gourd tosses, pumpkin decorating, sing-alongs, wagon rides, and other fun activities. Hours are: 10 AM to 5:30 PM.

Karabin Farms
894 Andrews Street
Southington, CT
860-620-0194  
http://www.karabinfarms.com/

Pick your own pumpkins starts September 20th at Karabin Farms, with thousand of pounds of pumpkins to choose from including:  large face pumpkins (up to 40 lbs.) as well as smaller sugar pumpkins, and the long-lasting Ironsides. Pumpkins are available at their store or, you can take a wagon ride on Saturdays and Sundays through October to their fields, from 10 AM to 4 PM. There is also apple picking. If you're interested in making apple fritters, here's how:  http://www.karabinfarms.com/SouthingtonAppleFritters.htm.


Lyman's Orchards
Routes 147 & 157
Middlefield, CT 860-349-1793

http://www.lymanorchards.com/

Owned and operated by the Lyman Family since 1741, picking areas here are easy to find and knowledgeable staff are on hand to help. Containers for picking and recipe sheets are at every pick-your-own station. Their pick-your-own hotline, 860-349-6015, keeps you up-to-date on conditions. On Saturday, November 8th, kids can learn how to make an apple pie in an interactive workshop. Reservations can be made after October 1st. They are open 7 days a week in  September and October, from 9 AM - 7 PM.


Maple Lane Farms 
57 N.W. Corner Road
Preston, CT 06365
860-889-3766
http://www.maplelane.com/pages/SeasonalFall.html

Maple Lane Farms carries on the New England apple picking tradition with a dozen varieties of apples planted on nine acres of lush farmland. From the good old standbys like McIntosh, Cortland, Golden Delicious and Macoun to new varieties such as Honeycrisp, Jonagold, Fuji and Gala, their trees are dwarf varieties that top out at only seven feet, which space efficiently and make for easier and safer picking. Hours are:  Thursday - Sunday, from 10 AM to 4 PM.


Scott's Yankee Farmer
291 North Bride Brook Road
East Lyme, CT
860-739-5209
http://www.scottsyankeefarmer.net/index.htm

Farming 125 acres, Scott's has all sorts of fruits and vegetables including apples, peaches, sweet corn, pumpkins, and more. Pick your own apples runs through October 31st and is open from 11 AM to 4 PM weekdays and 10 AM to 5 PM on weekends. Hayrides start September 20th and take place from 10 AM to 3 PM.

Silverman's Farm
451 Sport Hill Road (Rt. 59)
Easton, CT
203-261-3306
http://www.silvermansfarm.com

Silverman's offers dozens of varieties of apples to pick and guides visitors to the different varieties ready to be picked, and what their best uses are.  Octoberfest is an annual tradition at Silverman's when fall foliage sets the backdrop for colorful displays of "New England" squashes, gourds, indian corn, hay bales and corn stalks. There are also tractor rides and the chance to win a free pumpkin -- they give away thousands each year. They are open 7 days a week, from 9 AM to 5 PM.

 Warrup's Farm
51 John Read Road
Redding, CT
203-938-9403
http://www.warrupsfarm.com

An organic farm, pumpkin season is their biggest. On weekends in October (including Columbus Day Monday), they feature pumpkins grown on the vine (or choose one at at the farmstand for your convenience), apples, cider, fall vegetables, maple syrup, maple candy, and gift items. There are also antique tractor-drawn hayrides and  friendly barnyard animals to visit.